عدل باشد پاسبان گامها ** نه به شب چوبک‌زنان بر بامها730
Justice is the guardian of pleasures; not men who beat their rattles on the roofs at night.
لیک بد مقصودش از بانگ رباب ** هم‌چو مشتاقان خیال آن خطاب
But his object in (listening to) the sound of the rebeck was, like (that of) ardent lovers (of God), (to bring into his mind) the phantasy of that (Divine) allocution;
ناله‌ی سرنا و تهدید دهل ** چیزکی ماند بدان ناقور کل
(For) the shrill noise of the clarion and the menace of the drum somewhat resemble that universal trumpet.
پس حکیمان گفته‌اند این لحنها ** از دوار چرخ بگرفتیم ما
Hence philosophers have said that we received these harmonies from the revolution of the (celestial) sphere,
بانگ گردشهای چرخست این که خلق ** می‌سرایندش به طنبور و به حلق
(And that) this (melody) which people sing with pandore and throat is the sound of the revolutions of the sphere;
مومنان گویند که آثار بهشت ** نغز گردانید هر آواز زشت735
(But) the true believers say that the influences of Paradise made every unpleasant sound to be beautiful.
ما همه اجزای آدم بوده‌ایم ** در بهشت آن لحنها بشنوده‌ایم
We all have been parts of Adam, we have heard those melodies in Paradise.
گرچه بر ما ریخت آب و گل شکی ** یادمان آمد از آنها چیزکی
Although the water and earth (of our bodies) have caused a doubt to fall upon us, something of those (melodies) comes (back) to our memory;
لیک چون آمیخت با خاک کرب ** کی دهند این زیر و آن بم آن طرب
But since it is mingled with the earth of sorrow, how should this treble and bass give (us) the same delight?
آب چون آمیخت با بول و کمیز ** گشت ز آمیزش مزاجش تلخ و تیز
When water is mingled with urine and stalings, its temperament is made bitter and acid by the commixture.
چیزکی از آب هستش در جسد ** بول گیرش آتشی را می‌کشد740
There is a small quantity of water in his (a man's) body: suppose it is urine, (yet) it will extinguish a fire.
گر نجس شد آب این طبعش بماند ** که آتش غم را به طبع خود نشاند
If the water has been defiled, (still) this natural property of it remains, for by its nature it allays the fire of grief.
پس غدای عاشقان آمد سماع ** که درو باشد خیال اجتماع
Therefore samá‘ (music) is the food of lovers (of God), since therein is the phantasy of composure (tranquillity of mind).
قوتی گیرد خیالات ضمیر ** بلک صورت گردد از بانگ و صفیر
From (hearing) sounds and pipings the mental phantasies gather a (great) strength; nay, they become forms (in the imagination).
آتش عشق از نواها گشت تیز ** آن چنان که آتش آن جوزریز
The fire of love is made keen (inflamed) by melodies, just as the fire (ardour) of the man who dropped walnuts (into the water).
حکایت آن مرد تشنه کی از سر جوز بن جوز می‌ریخت در جوی آب کی در گو بود و به آب نمی‌رسید تا به افتادن جوز بانگ آب# بشنود و او را چو سماع خوش بانگ آب اندر طرب می‌آورد
Story of the thirsty man who dropped walnuts from the top of a walnut-tree into the water-brook that was in the hollow, without reaching the water (himself), in order that he might hear the sound made by the walnuts falling on the water, which thrilled him with joy as (though it were) sweet music.
در نغولی بود آب آن تشنه راند ** بر درخت جوز جوزی می‌فشاند745
The water was in a deep place: the thirsty man went up the tree and scattered the walnuts one by one.
می‌فتاد از جوزبن جوز اندر آب ** بانگ می‌آمد همی دید او حباب
The walnuts were falling from the walnut-tree into the water: the sound was coming (to his ears), and he was seeing the bubbles.
عاقلی گفتش که بگذار ای فتی ** جوزها خود تشنگی آرد ترا
A sensible person said to him, “Leave off, O youth: truly the (loss of the) walnuts will bring thirst (regret) to you.
بیشتر در آب می‌افتد ثمر ** آب در پستیست از تو دور در
The more the fruit falls into the water—(since) the water is below at a (great) distance from you,
تا تو از بالا فرو آیی به زور ** آب جویش برده باشد تا به دور
The river-water will have carried it (the fruit) far away before you with effort come down from the top (of the tree).”